# Hants West

Hants West is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
The district has existed since 1949. Earlier, it and Hants East were together in Hants.

## Geography

Hants West has a 1,319 km$^2$ (509 sq mi) landmass.

## Members of the Legislative Assembly

This riding has elected the following members of the Legislative Assembly:
Hants West :
| Legislature | Years | Member | Party |
| Riding created from Hants |||||
| 44th | 1949–1953 | George B. Cole | Liberal |
| 45th | 1953–1956 | George Henry Wilson | Progressive Conservative |
| 46th | 1956–1960 | George Henry Wilson | Progressive Conservative |
| 47th | 1960–1963 | George Henry Wilson | Progressive Conservative |
| 48th | 1963–1967 | Norman T. Spence | Progressive Conservative |
| 49th | 1967–1970 | Norman T. Spence | Progressive Conservative |
| 50th | 1970–1974 | Robert D. Lindsay | Liberal |
| 51st | 1974–1978 | Robert D. Lindsay | Liberal |
| 52nd | 1978–1981 | Ron Russell | Progressive Conservative |
| 53rd | 1981–1984 | Ron Russell | Progressive Conservative |
| 54th | 1984–1988 | Ron Russell | Progressive Conservative |
| 55th | 1988–1993 | Ron Russell | Progressive Conservative |
| 56th | 1993–1998 | Ron Russell | Progressive Conservative |
| 57th | 1998–1999 | Ron Russell | Progressive Conservative |
| 58th | 1999–2003 | Ron Russell | Progressive Conservative |
| 59th | 2003–2006 | Ron Russell | Progressive Conservative |
| 60th | 2006–2009 | Chuck Porter | Progressive Conservative |
| 61st | 2009–2013 | Chuck Porter | Progressive Conservative |
| 62nd | 2013–2014 | Chuck Porter | Progressive Conservative |
| 62nd | 2014–2016 | Chuck Porter | Independent |
| 62nd | 2016–2017 | Chuck Porter | Liberal |
| 63rd | 2017–2021 | Chuck Porter | Liberal |
| 64th | 2021–2024 | Melissa Sheehy-Richard | Progressive Conservative |
| 65th | 2024–present | Melissa Sheehy-Richard | Progressive Conservative |

## Election results
### 2024

vte2024 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Melissa Sheehy-Richard | 4,253 | 52.6% |
| | Liberal | Brian Casey | 2,621 | 32.4% |
| | New Democratic | Simon Greenough | 1,120 | 13.8% |
| | Independent | James Omand | 93 | 1.1% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,087 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2021

vte2021 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Melissa Sheehy-Richard | 3,968 | 43.11 | +14.18 | $40,454.11 |
| | Liberal | Brian Casey | 3,827 | 41.58 | -13.16 | $40,039.34 |
| | New Democratic | Caet Moir | 1,015 | 11.03 | -1.42 | $31,621.71 |
| | Green | Jenn Kang | 273 | 2.97 | -0.07 | $200.00 |
| | Atlantica | Gordon J. Berry | 121 | 1.31 | +0.47 | $200.00 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 9,204 | 99.73 | – | $94,843.34 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 25 | 0.27 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,229 | 55.98 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 16,485 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +13.67 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2017

2017 provincial election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Liberal | 4,708 | 54.74 |
| Progressive Conservative | 2,488 | 28.93 |
| New Democratic | 1,071 | 12.45 |
| Green | 261 | 3.03 |
| Atlantica | 73 | 0.85 |
vte2017 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Chuck Porter | 4,589 | 54.87 | +17.63 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Janice Munroe Dodge | 2,416 | 28.89 | -21.86 |
| | New Democratic | Lalia Kerr | 1,042 | 12.46 | +10.54 |
| | Green | Torin Buzek | 243 | 2.90 | |
| | Atlantica | Edward Boucher | 73 | 0.87 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,363 | 100 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 37 | 0.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,400 | 54.72 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 15,352 |
| | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Swing | Swing | +19.75 |
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia |||||||

### 2013

2013 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Progressive Conservative | Chuck Porter | 4,468 | 50.75 |
| Liberal | Claude Sherman O'Hara | 3,279 | 37.24 |
| New Democratic Party | Brian Stephens | 888 | 10.28 |

### 2009

2009 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Chuck Porter | 3,364 | 37.24% | 2.63% |
| | Liberal | Paula Lunn | 3,065 | 33.93% | -0.15% |
| | New Democratic | Barbara Gallagher | 2,401 | 26.58% | -2.40% |
| | Green | Sheila Richardson | 204 | 2.26% | -0.08% |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,034 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 2006

2006 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Chuck Porter | 2,969 | 34.60% | -11.55% |
| | Liberal | Paula Lunn | 2,924 | 34.08% | 8.83% |
| | New Democratic | Sean Bennett | 2,486 | 28.97% | 2.75% |
| | Green | Sam Schurman | 201 | 2.34% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,580 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 2003

2003 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 3,871 | 46.15% | -12.12% |
| | New Democratic | Sean Bennett | 2,200 | 26.23% | 6.75% |
| | Liberal | Randy Matheson | 2,118 | 25.25% | 3.00% |
| | Marijuana | Chummy Anthony | 148 | 1.76% | – |
| | Nova Scotia Party | Connie Brauer | 51 | 0.61% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,388 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1999

1999 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 5,276 | 58.27% | 10.79% |
| | Liberal | Joe Robertson | 2,015 | 22.25% | -5.09% |
| | New Democratic | Dick Terfry | 1,764 | 19.48% | -5.70% |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,055 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1998

1998 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 4,507 | 47.48% | 7.07% |
| | Liberal | Debbi Bowes | 2,596 | 27.35% | -12.61% |
| | New Democratic | Dana Harvey | 2,390 | 25.18% | 6.87% |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,493 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1993

1993 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 4,152 | 40.41% | -12.43% |
| | Liberal | Mike Doyle | 4,106 | 39.96% | 10.60% |
| | New Democratic | Dana Harvey | 1,881 | 18.31% | 0.51% |
| | Independent | Donald L. McKay | 136 | 1.32% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 10,275 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1988

1988 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 5,091 | 52.84% | -2.81% |
| | Liberal | Donzell A. Ross | 2,829 | 29.36% | -1.08% |
| | New Democratic | Penny Reid | 1,715 | 17.80% | 3.89% |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,635 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1984

1984 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 4,634 | 55.65% | 4.14% |
| | Liberal | Robert D. Lindsay | 2,535 | 30.44% | 0.34% |
| | New Democratic | Alan St. C. Squires | 1,158 | 13.91% | -4.49% |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,327 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1981

1981 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 4,554 | 51.51% | -1.72% |
| | Liberal | Daniel J. McGrath | 2,661 | 30.10% | -7.98% |
| | New Democratic | Alan St. C. Squires | 1,626 | 18.39% | 9.70% |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,841 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1978

1978 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 4,872 | 53.23% | 10.27% |
| | Liberal | Robert D. Lindsay | 3,485 | 38.08% | -9.99% |
| | New Democratic | Bill Shiers | 795 | 8.69% | -0.28% |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,152 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1974

1974 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert D. Lindsay | 4,148 | 48.07% | -3.66% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Russell | 3,707 | 42.96% | -5.31% |
| | New Democratic | Gary E. Tonks | 774 | 8.97% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,629 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1970

1970 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert D. Lindsay | 3,974 | 51.73% | 3.69% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Norman T. Spence | 3,708 | 48.27% | -3.69% |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,682 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1967

1967 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Norman T. Spence | 3,765 | 51.96% | -6.24% |
| | Liberal | Robert D. Lindsay | 3,481 | 48.04% | 8.62% |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,246 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1963

1963 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Norman T. Spence | 4,193 | 58.20% | 8.94% |
| | Liberal | W. Whitney Spicer | 2,840 | 39.42% | -6.97% |
| | New Democratic | Arthur William Benedict | 171 | 2.37% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,204 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1960

1960 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | George Henry Wilson | 3,623 | 49.27% | 0.05% |
| | Liberal | Gerald Regan | 3,412 | 46.40% | -1.30% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Howard B. Wile | 319 | 4.34% | 1.24% |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,354 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1956

1956 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | George Henry Wilson | 3,405 | 49.21% | -4.41% |
| | Liberal | Gerald Regan | 3,300 | 47.69% | 1.32% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Ralph Loomer | 214 | 3.09% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,919 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1953

1953 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | George Henry Wilson | 3,608 | 53.63% | – |
| | Liberal | Ken Eisner | 3,120 | 46.37% | 6.70% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,728 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1949

1949 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George B. Cole | 2,530 | 39.67% | – |
| | Liberal–Conservative | George Henry Wilson | 2,529 | 39.66% | – |
| | Independent | Gordon B. Crossley | 749 | 11.75% | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Ralph Loomer | 569 | 8.92% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,377 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||